Sworn complaint alleges student filed false report of robbery

Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 3:08 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 3:08 p.m.

A University of Florida student has been charged in a sworn complaint with filing a false report of a crime when he reported on Dec. 9 that he had been robbed at a campus convenience store where he worked, Maj. Brad Barber reported.

Steven P. Klepac, 20, was charged with filing a false police report, misuse of the 911 system and theft.

A sworn complaint was also filed that charges Lani A. Caraballo, 21, with filing a false police report and theft as an accomplice. She disguised herself to appear to be the robber, Barber said.

Barber said Caraballo is Klepac's girlfriend and is not affiliated with UF.

Klepac told authorities he was robbed at the Graham Oasis convenience store in Graham Hall at about 4:08 a.m., prompting UF to issue an emergency notification alert.

Detectives found inconsistencies in Klepac's account of what actually took place and the circumstances involved, Barber said, adding Klepac eventually confessed that the robbery was faked to cover up stealing money from the store.

Klepic also told police that Caraballo was in disguise to prevent her from being recorded by the surveillance cameras located throughout the facility and potentially recognized, Barber said.

<p>A University of Florida student has been charged in a sworn complaint with filing a false report of a crime when he reported on Dec. 9 that he had been robbed at a campus convenience store where he worked, Maj. Brad Barber reported.</p><p>Steven P. Klepac, 20, was charged with filing a false police report, misuse of the 911 system and theft.</p><p>A sworn complaint was also filed that charges Lani A. Caraballo, 21, with filing a false police report and theft as an accomplice. She disguised herself to appear to be the robber, Barber said.</p><p>Barber said Caraballo is Klepac's girlfriend and is not affiliated with UF.</p><p>Klepac told authorities he was robbed at the Graham Oasis convenience store in Graham Hall at about 4:08 a.m., prompting UF to issue an emergency notification alert.</p><p>Detectives found inconsistencies in Klepac's account of what actually took place and the circumstances involved, Barber said, adding Klepac eventually confessed that the robbery was faked to cover up stealing money from the store.</p><p>Klepic also told police that Caraballo was in disguise to prevent her from being recorded by the surveillance cameras located throughout the facility and potentially recognized, Barber said.</p><p><i>- Cindy Swirko</i></p>